– sparrow-sized passerine
– mainly diurnal migrant, to lesser extent nocturnal
– migrates singly or in small, loose flocks, at roosts several hundreds to thousands may flock
– very vocal
– taxonomic status likely not finally clarified
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, AD M
BIF3309, 09/06/2014, Dornod Province, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, AD M
BIF3310, 09/06/2014, Dornod Province, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, AD M
BIF3311, 09/06/2014, Dornod Province, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, AD M
BIF3312, 09/06/2014, Dornod Province, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, AD M
BIF3313, 09/06/2014, Dornod Province, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, AD M
BIF3314, 09/06/2014, Dornod Province, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– flight call a typical wagtail-like overslur
– 1st partial frequency range is 2-8 kHz
– great variability between the different ssp.
– some ssp. cannot be reliably distinguished in the field
– ssp. macronyx can sound confusingly similar to Citrine Wagtail
– overview – – detail – Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, call in flight Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, call in flight
BIF3341, 08/06/2013, Tsagaan Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx, call in flight
BIF3342, 08/06/2013, Tsagaan Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
– sparrow-sized passerine, with very long tail
– diurnal migrant, nocturnal movements have been recorded
– migrates singly or in small very loose flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea
BIF2751, 09/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea melanope, AD M
BIF2561, 31/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea , F
BIF2932, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea , F
BIF2933, 04/04/2019, North Sea, offshore, Roland Neumann
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea
BIF2752, 07/10/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea melanope, AD M
BIF2562, 30/08/2017, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– very vocal
– flight call a steep overslur, uttered as single calls or in series
– sounds harder, more metallic than similar White Wagtail flight call, but sometimes hard to distinguish
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea melanope, call in flight
BIF2557, 29/05/2013, Uliastai, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea, call in flight
BIF2558, 20/01/2017, Ölzschau, Germany, Patrick Franke
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea, call in flight
BIF2559, 02/04/2017, Terpitz, Germany, Patrick Franke
Grey Wagtail Motacilla c. cinerea, call in flight
BIF2560, 24/09/2017, Haselbacher Teiche, Germany, Patrick Franke
– sparrow-sized passerine
– mainly diurnal migrant, to lesser extent nocturnal
– migrates singly or in small, loose flocks, at roosts several hundreds to thousands may flock
– very vocal
– taxonomic status likely not finally clarified
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, JUV
BIF0359, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, JUV
BIF0360, 01/08/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, 1CY
BIF2718, 18/08/2018, Dangast, Germany, Roland Neumann Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, 1CY
BIF2717, 18/08/2018, Dangast, Germany, Roland Neumann Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, M AD
BIF0445, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, M AD
BIF0446, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, F AD
BIF0447, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, F AD
BIF1003, 13/09/2013, Emden, Germany, Mathias Putze Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, 1CY
BIF2719, 18/08/2018, Dangast, Germany, Roland Neumann
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– flight call a typical wagtail-like overslur
– 1st partial frequency range is 2-8 kHz
– great variability between the different ssp.
– some ssp. cannot be reliably distinguished in the field
– ssp. feldegg can sound confusingly similar to Citrine Wagtail
– overview – – detail – Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, calls in flight
BIF3346, 10/06/2009, Tipperne, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview – – detail – Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla f. flava, probably 1CY, calls during migration
BIF0448, 01/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
– probably 1cy due to plasticity of the call
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava beema, calls in flight
BIF0512, 26/04/2011, Ulytau, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– overview – – detail – Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava beemaXfeldegg, flight calls
BIF3344, 25/05/2011, Ulytau, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– overview – – detail – Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg, M, calls in flight
BIF3345, 06/04/2011, Aitbuzum, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– sparrow-sized passerine, with long tail
– diurnal migrant (rarely nocturnal as well)
– usually migrates singly or in small, loose flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, 1CY
BIF2747, 22/09/2012, Odenwald, Germany, Martin Grimm
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba
BIF2746, 19/09/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, 1CY
BIF0361, 08/10/2013, Wermsdorf, Germany, Mathias Putze
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, AD F
BIF0358, 05/09/2013, Delitzsch, Germany, Mathias Putze
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba
BIF2046, 28/12/2017, Neuruppin, Germany, Roland Neumann
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– flight call is a medium sharp overslur, about 0,2 sec long, often uttered in couplets or triplets
– flight calls are medium variable/plastic in individuals, between individuals and taxa
– audible differences are very likely for this reason
– differences between taxa can be found in the alarm calls
– to clarify the taxonomic status based on sound, further research is necessary
ssp. alba
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, 1CY, calls in flight
BIF2176, 03/08/2008, Geiseltalsee, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, 1CY, calls in flight
BIF2177, 09/07/2016, Schadebacher Teiche, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, during migration
BIF0449, 30/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, 4, during migration
BIF0450, 30/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, AD, calls in flight Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa t. tridactyla, breeding colony
BIF2178, 21/06/2015, Hornbjarg, Iceland, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, during migration
BIF2179, 30/08/2013, Seelhausener See, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, during migration Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus c. collybita, social call
BIF2180, 06/10/2017, Flachwasserzone Mannhausen, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, flock, during migration
BIF2181, 03/10/2017, Flachwasserzone Mannhausen, Germany, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba, calls in flight
BIF2962, 22/07/2018, Karrendorfer Wiesen, Germany, Patrick Franke
ssp. yarelli
White Wagtail Motacilla alba yarelli, 1CY, calls in flight Common Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus, call
BIF2189, 30/06/2017, Titchwell, United Kingdom, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba yarelli, AD M, calls in flight
BIF2190, 09/05/2015, Mounthooley, United Kingdom, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba yarelli, flock, calls in flight Common Black-headed Gull Croicocephalus ridibundus, colony Eurasian Skylark Alauda a. arvensis, flock, calls in flight
BIF2191, 30/06/2017, Titchwell, United Kingdom, Patrick Franke
ssp. baicalensis
White Wagtail Motacilla alba baicalensis, calls in flight
BIF2082, 25/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba baicalensis, calls in flight
BIF2083, 25/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba baicalensis, calls in flight
BIF2084, 26/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
ssp. personata
White Wagtail Motacilla alba personata, calls in flight
BIF2085, 05/04/2011, Lake Kyzyltan, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba personata, calls in flight
BIF2086, 05/04/2011, Lake Kyzyltan, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba personata, calls in flight
BIF2087, 12/04/2011, Komsomolskoe, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
White Wagtail Motacilla alba personata, calls in flight
BIF2088, 26/05/2011, Rybachje, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
Reference:
Robb, M, van den Berg, A B & The Sound Approach, Flight call identification of White, Pied and Moroccan Wagtail, in Dutch Birding 32, Santpoort-Zuid
Adriaens P., Bosman D. & J. Elst, White Wagtail and Pied Wagtail: a new look, in Dutch Birding 32, Santpoort-Zuid
– sparrow-sized passerine
– mainly diurnal migrant, to lesser extent nocturnal
– migrates singly or in small flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF0006, 02/06/2011, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, F AD
BIF0091, 16/05/2011, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF0357, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF3314, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF3315, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD
BIF3316, 10/06/2014, Dornod, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– very vocal
– typical yellow wagtail-like overslur
– frequency range is 2-7,5 kHz
– the descending second part is broadly modulated what gives the call a rasping quality
– both ssp. can be separated by sound (WIELSTRA ET AL.)
– very similar to ssp. thunbergii and macronyx of the yellow wagtail complex
– overview – – detail –
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, M AD, calls in flight
BIF0092, 07/04/2011, Kocsu, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– overview – – detail – Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta blakistoni, calls in flight Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, F AD, calls in flight
BIF3337, 05/04/2011, Lake Kyzyltan, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla c. citreola, calls in flight
BIF3338, 25/04/2011, Stary Talap, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– overview – – detail – Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola werae, calls in flight
BIF3339, 18/09/2019, Batumi, Georgia, Patrick Franke
References:
Wielstra M., Thijs Fijen, Rob van Bemmelen, Sam Gobin & Vincent van der Spek 2019, Citrine Wagtail calls – can ssp. be identified based on calls?, www.turnstones.org
